Putting practice and game table

ABSTRACT

A putting game table housing a playing surface elevated from the surface on which it rests. The playing surface has at least one hole capable of receiving a golf ball. The table provides a floor collection area and a table surface collection area for the golf balls not in play. A mechanism which transports the golf balls from the floor collection area to the surface collection area is provided.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/987,223 filed on Nov. 12, 2007, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of games of skilland knowledge, and more particularly to a putting game table.

BACKGROUND

Golf putting games and pool table games are both known in the art. Onesuch example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,243 showing a putting pool gameincluding a portable game frame to be placed upon the floor. A majordisadvantage of the known putting and pool games is that they do notprovide a way to conveniently collect the game balls into a centrallocation, thereby requiring the user to manually collect the scatteredballs. Because the user must take time to physically collect the golfballs, the user's time and energy must be diverted from the game play.Further, the golf or pool games of the prior art do not allow for theplaying surface to be adjusted so as to change the game playcharacteristics of the game table, thereby making it virtuallyimpossible to manipulate the level of difficulty. Thus, there is a needfor an improved putting game table that addresses these disadvantagesand others.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides an improved putting game table. Theclaims, and only the claims, define the invention.

One embodiment of the present invention is a game playable with ballscomprising a playing surface including a plurality of holes extendingthrough said playing surface to allow a ball to selectably move from theplaying surface through one of the holes. The playing surface issurrounded by an outer stop to limit movement of balls off of theplaying surface. A ball collector track is provided to receive ballsfrom the playing surface and align the balls in sequential fashion. Aplurality of return ball members extend downwardly from the holes andall terminating at the ball collector track to catch balls fallingthrough the holes and directing the balls toward the ball collectortrack for storage of the balls.

One object of the present invention is to provide a putting game tablethat overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a putting gametable that collects the golf balls no longer in play.

Further, objectives and advantages of the present invention will appearas the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a putting table according to one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view of a putting table according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line3-3 of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows shown.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the ball return portions and floorcollection tray according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view looking in the direction of arrow 5-5of FIG. 1 illustrating the floor collection area according to one aspectof the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line6-6 of FIG. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is an elevated perspective view illustrating alternate collectiontracks and conveyor system according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the collection tracks and conveyorsystem of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top view of an exit gate according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the exit gate of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side view of yet another embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary end view of the embodiment of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side view of yet another embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 15 is an elevated view of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged end view of one embodiment of the presentdisclosure that allows the user to adjust the game play.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged end view of another embodiment of the presentdisclosure that allows the user to adjust the game play.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustratedherein and specific language will be used to describe the same. It willnevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Such alterations and furthermodifications in the described processes, systems or devices, anyfurther applications of the principles of the invention as describedherein, are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in theart to which the invention relates, now and/or in the future.

The language used in the claims is to only have its plain and ordinarymeaning, except as explicitly defined herein. Such plain and ordinarymeaning is inclusive of all consistent dictionary definitions from themost recently published Webster's dictionaries and Random Housedictionaries.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-3, the preferred embodiment of puttingtable 20 includes flat surface 22 and inclined peripheral walls 24. Asshown, inclined walls 24 run along the peripheral edges of putting table20. Holes 26 are placed at various locations within flat surface 22.According to one embodiment, four holes 26 are placed within flatsurface 22. In one embodiment, the openings of holes 26 have a dimensionof 4.25″ in diameter. Floor collection area 28, which is described inmore detail below, is positioned adjacent to one edge of table 20. Asillustrated, floor collection area 28 includes a floor collection tray36. As shown by the dotted lines, each hole 26 is connected to astraight ball return portion 34, in which golf ball 38 may be gravityfed to the floor collection area 28. Retaining walls 30 are locatedaround the outer edges of table 20. In one embodiment, retaining wall 30is several inches tall, so as to ensure that the golf balls stay withinthe playing surface.

Specifically referring to FIG. 2, each hole 26 has an open end facing upfrom flat surface 22. Opposite to its open end, each hole 26 isconnected to an angled ball return portion 32, which is connected tostraight ball return portion 34. According to one embodiment, angledball return portions 32 and straight ball return portions 34 are made ofpolyvinyl chloride (PVC). Straight ball return portions 34 may be madeof tubing, tracks, rails, or any other structure capable of allowing aball to roll down it. For example, straight ball return portion 34 mayhave a structure similar to floor collection tray 36, in which a pair ofmutually opposed walls limit the movement of the balls 38 off of thestraight ball return portion 34. In the embodiment in which straightball return portion 34 is made of tubing, the tubing has a diametergreater than the diameter of said golf balls 38. As illustrated,straight ball return portions 34 have one end attached to angled ballreturn portion 32 and an open, opposite end facing floor collection tray36. As shown, straight ball return portions 34 are inclined relative tofloor 48. In one embodiment, table 20 has horizontal dimensions of 8feet×12 feet, though other dimensions are contemplated.

Now specifically referencing FIG. 3, table 20 generally includes mattedmaterial 40, angled platform portion 42, platform 44 and leg 46. Mattedmaterial 40 is affixed to the top portions of platform 44 and angledplatform portion 42, as well as to the inside of retaining wall 30.Matted material 40 may be made of any commercially available syntheticputting green material, such as nylon. Angled portion 42 is affixedaround the outer edges of platform 44 to create inclined peripheralwalls 24. According to one embodiment, angled portion 42 is tilted up150 relative to the horizontal surface created by platform 44. Theupward tilt of angled portion 42 helps to ensure that the golf ballsstay away from the outer edge of table 20. According to one embodiment,the upper surface of angled portion 42 has a horizontal dimension of 15inches. The top surfaces of platform 44 and angled platform portions 42define a playing surface upon which putting practice and various puttinggames can be played.

As demonstrated in FIG. 1, the inner points of angled portions 42 definethe boundary of flat surface 22. Leg 46 is secured to platform 44, whichprovides stability and support to table 20, as well as maintain platform44 at a certain height above floor 48. In one embodiment, angledportions 42, platform 44, and leg 46 are made of wood; however, the useof lighter materials may also be employed, such as aluminum. Dependingon the materials used, table 20 may be constructed through the use of avariety of fasteners, such as adhesives, nails, staples, metalfasteners, and nuts and bolts. According to another embodiment, platform44 is made of ¾ inch plywood or particle board.

Referring now generally to FIGS. 4-6, straight ball return portions 34as described above, are inclined relative to floor 48. Therefore, asshown by the direction arrows in FIG. 4, after the player hits a golfball 38 into hole 26, the golf ball 38 is gravity fed into floorcollection tray 36. As shown in FIG. 5, collection tray 36 is alsoinclined relative to the floor 48. The portion of floor collection tray36 which receives the balls from straight ball return portions 34 israised with respect to its opposite end. Therefore, as illustrated bythe arrow in FIG. 5, golf balls 38 are gravity fed to the end of floortray 36 opposite of straight ball return portions 34. FIG. 6 illustratesthat floor collection tray 36 is wide enough to easily receive returngolf ball 38 from straight golf ball return portion 34. After exitingstraight golf ball return portion 34, golf ball 38 hits the oppositewall of tray 36 to stop its momentum, in which it will then be fed downthe collection tray 36. The opposing walls of floor collection tray 36align the golf balls 38 in a sequential fashion. In one embodiment,floor collection tray 36 is approximately 43 inches in length and has awidth of approximately 2.5 inches. Alternatively, floor collection tray36 of floor collection area 28 can be replaced by a retaining areapositioned adjacent to the ends of straight ball return portions 34.Though the retaining area holds the returned golf balls 38 in a randomfashion, such an area still provides the benefit of convenientlycollecting the returned balls to a central location.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 7,putting table 20 can include floor collection area 28, a conveyor beltsystem 60 and a surface collection area 66. Unlike the embodiments shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 provides amechanism to elevate balls from floor collection area 28 to surfacecollection area 66. As previously discussed, straight ball returnportions 34 feed the balls 38 hit into holes 26 into collection tray 36,which are then gravity fed down to the collection tray 36 opposite theends of straight ball return portions 34.

Conveyor belt system 60 guides the golf ball 38 up from the floorcollection area 28 along track 62 up into surface collection area 66. Asshown in FIGS. 8-9, conveyor belt system 60 comprises a two railed track62 configured to receive a golf ball 38 between the two tracks. Asshown, track 62 diverges at a point and splits into two separate tracks67, thereby sharing a common junction. According to one embodiment, eachtrack 67 has a length capable of holding 15 golf balls. Receiving gate64 is positioned at the vertex, or junction, of tracks 67 and can bepositioned by the user (for example, to the left or right) to force areturned golf ball 38 into one track or the other as shown. Receivinggate 64 is fixed to and can rotate about pivot 65. Stops 78 arepositioned adjacent to pivot 65 on each track 67. Stops 78 help maintainreceiving gate 64 in the desired position, thus forcing the receivinggate 64 to properly direct the balls one way or the other.

Looking now more particularly to the conveyor system, as shown in FIGS.8 and 9, sprocket 70 is engaged with chain 72, and a series of cleats 74are intermittently placed along chain 72. An output 77 of motor 76 isfixably connected to sprocket 70, such that rotation of the output 77 ofmotor 76 forces the rotation of sprocket 70. Due to the mechanicalengagement between the teeth of sprocket 70 and the links of chain 72,the activation of motor 76 causes the rotation of chain 72 which in turncauses the movement of cleats 74. As shown, cleats 74 are spacedsufficiently to allow a golf ball 38 to lie between adjacent cleats 74within track 62. When motor 76 is activated, cleats 74 push golf ball 38up along track 62, at which point it may then pass receiving gate 64 tobe placed along the appropriate track 67. Because floor collector track36 maintains the balls 38 in a sequential fashion, cleats 74 are able toreceive a single golf ball 38 at a time.

As shown in FIG. 7, at the end of track 67 are located exit gates 68.According to one embodiment, tracks 67 are inclined slightly, such thatthe lowest point of each track 67 is at exit gate 68. FIGS. 10 and 11illustrate exit gate 68 in greater detail. Exit gate 68 is comprised ofa horizontal member 80 and vertical member 82. As shown, one end ofhorizontal member 80 is connected at one end to vertical member 82,while the opposite end of horizontal member 80 is connected to pivot 69.Additionally, horizontal member 80 is connected to bias spring 84, whichis connected to support 86. According to one embodiment, horizontalmember 80 is composed of a ¼″ to ⅜″ diameter metal rod. The horizontalmember 80 rests across the path of golf balls 38 resting within track67, preventing them from rolling onto the putting surface of table 20.

In operation, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, an individual can usehis or her putter 88 to contact and push vertical member 82, rotatinghorizontal member 80 about pivot 69. Because exit gate 68 is locatednear the playing surface of putting table 20, golf balls 38 enter theplaying surface of putting table 20 after a sufficient gap is createdbetween horizontal member 80 and the end of track 67. Upon the userremoving pressure from vertical member 82, bias spring 84 will returnhorizontal member 80 back to its original position, thereby not allowingadditional golf balls 38 to enter the playing surface.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate yet another embodiment which provides anotherway to transport golf balls 38 from the floor collection area 28 to thesurface collection area 66. As shown, Ferris wheel assembly 90 includesfloor track 92, a center rod 94, circular board 96, holes 98 and surfacetrack 100. Located around the perimeter of circular board 96 are aseries of holes 98. Located adjacent to each hole 98 is a cage 104,which has a front portion 105 and an opposed back portion 107. Frontportion 105 is mounted to circular board 96 around the particular hole98. As illustrated in FIG. 13, front portion 105 is elevated withrespect to back portion 107 when cage 104 is positioned closest to floor48. Alternatively, back portion 107 is elevated with respect to frontportion 105 when cage 104 is positioned above surface track 100. Thoughnot shown, surface collection track 100 is connected to surfacecollection area 66 of FIGS. 7 and 9.

In the embodiment shown, golf balls 38 are gravity fed from floorcollection tray 36 into cage 104. The output of a motor 102 is fixedlyconnected to rod 94, which in turn is fixedly connected to circularboard 96. When motor 102 is activated, motor 102 causes the rotation ofrod 94, thereby causing circular board 96 to rotate in the samedirection. Once golf ball 38 enters cage 104, both the ball 38 and cage104 are circularly rotated up about rod 94. The tilt of the cage 104keeps the ball 38 within the cage 104, until the circular board 96rotates to such a degree that the tilt of the cage 104 becomes invertedand the ball 38 drops back out onto surface track 100. In oneembodiment, the circular board 96 is large enough so that the pointwhere the golf ball 38 falls from the cage 104 is at or near the highestpoint of a surface track 100.

As shown in FIG. 14 an auger system 109 is shown. According to thissystem, Auger system 109 includes track 110, rod 112, and auger blade114. Rod 112 is connected to a motor (not shown), the output of whichrotates rod 112 when activated. The rotation of rod 112 causes therotation of helical flightings of auger blade 114. In this embodiment,the spacing between flights is sufficient to hold a golf ball.Therefore, during operation and activation of the motor, the rotatinghelical flightings of auger blade 114 receive a gravity fed golf ball 38from floor collection tray 36. Through subsequent rotations of the augerblades 114, the golf ball 38 is transported up between the rods of track110, as denoted by the arrow shown in FIG. 14.

According to one embodiment, the height of each of the four corners ofthe putting table 20 should be made level so that from any point on thehorizontal plane of flat surface 22, a putted golf ball 38 will travelin a straight line. However, according to further embodiments, theplatform 44 may be lifted, causing the entire putting surface to tilt.As illustrated in FIG. 15, the tilt results in breaking puts of varyingamounts depending on the height the platform is lifted. This tiltingallows the user to manipulate the game play of the table's puttingsurface.

Specific reference will now be made to FIG. 16. In the embodiment shown,various methods may be employed to raise one side of table 20 to thedesired height, such as through the use of a car jack or by manuallylifting the table. When one side of the platform 44 reaches the desiredheight, a wedge block 120 is pushed against the legs 46 of the table 20.The legs 46 are then able to rest upon one of the level surfaces of theblock 120. The wedge block 120 has multiple steps 122 upon which the leg46 can rest. In one embodiment, wedge block 120 has steps 122 havingapproximately 1 inch of rise and 1 inch of run.

As shown in FIG. 17, a low rider assembly 130 may also be employed tocreate a tilt in platform 44. In this instance, the low rider assembly130 replaces two of the legs 46. The assembly 130 comprises one or moreinflatable air bags 132, which are in fluid communication with acompressor 134. In one embodiment, the low rider assembly 130 ispositioned along the long side of table 20. The inflation/deflation ofair bags 132 is controlled by switch 136, which operates a valve lettingair in or out of air bags 132, resulting in the raising or lowering ofplatform 44.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and thatall changes and modifications that come within the spirit of theinvention are desired to be protected. It is also contemplated thatstructures and features embodied in the present examples can be altered,rearranged, substituted, deleted, duplicated, combined, or added to eachother. The articles “the”, “a” and “an” are not necessarily limited tomean only one, but rather are inclusive and open ended so as to include,optionally, multiple such elements.

1. A game playable with balls comprising: a playing surface including aplurality of holes extending through said playing surface to allow aball to selectably move from said playing surface through one of saidholes; an outer stop surrounding said playing surface to limit movementof balls off said playing surface; a ball collector area to receiveballs from said playing surface; and, a plurality of return ball membersextending downwardly from said holes and all terminating at said ballcollector track to catch balls falling through said holes and directingthe balls toward said ball collector area for storage of said balls. 2.The game of claim 1 wherein: said playing surface is flat and said outerstop includes an inclined surface extending upwardly from said playingsurface to direct balls rolling thereon back to said playing surface,said outer stop further includes a stop surface extending upwardly fromsaid inclined surface and surrounding said playing surface and saidinclined surface to limit movement of balls off of the game.
 3. The gameof claim 2 wherein: said return ball members include pairs of mutuallyopposed and upwardly extending walls limiting movement of said balls offof said return ball members.
 4. The game of claim 2 wherein: said returnball members include a tube having a diameter larger than the diameterof said balls.
 5. The game of claim 1 wherein: said ball collector areaincludes a ball collector track to align said balls in sequentialfashion, said ball collector track having a floor level portion, aninclined portion, and a playing surface portion, said inclined portionhaving a first end and a second end, said first end being connected tosaid floor level portion, said second end being connected to saidplaying surface portion, said playing surface portion being elevatedwith respect to said floor portion.
 6. The game of claim 5 wherein: saidplaying surface portion includes a receiving gate, a first track and asecond track having a common junction, said first track and said secondtrack split from said inclined portion at said common junction, whereinsaid receiving gate is positioned at said common junction.
 7. The gameof claim 5 wherein: said playing surface portion has an exit gate and adistal end located near said playing surface, wherein said exit gate ispositioned adjacent to said distal end.
 8. The game of claim 7 wherein:said exit gate is comprised of a bias spring, a horizontal member and avertical member, said horizontal member is connected to said biasspring.
 9. The game of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of legssupporting said playing surface and maintaining said playing surface atan elevated height.
 10. The game of claim 9 further comprising: a wedgehaving a plurality of steps upon with said legs can rest.
 11. The gameof claim 1 further comprising: an inflatable air bag supporting saidplaying surface at an elevated height; and, a compressor in fluidcommunication with said inflatable air bag.
 12. A game to be positionedon a supporting floor and playable with balls comprising: a playingsurface including a plurality of holes extending through said playingsurface to allow a ball to selectably move from said playing surfacethrough one of said holes; an outer stop surrounding said playingsurface to limit movement of balls off said playing surface; a floorcollector track to receive balls from said playing surface and alignsaid balls in sequential fashion; a raised collector track to align saidballs in sequential fashion in order for the balls to be dispensed ontosaid playing surface; and, elevating means for moving said golf ballsfrom said floor collector track to said raised collector track.
 13. Thegame of claim 12 further comprising: a plurality of return ball trackscorresponding to each of said holes, said return ball tracks extendingdownwardly from said holes and terminating at said floor collectortrack.
 14. The game of claim 12 wherein said elevating means include: amotor having an output; a sprocket fixedly connected to said output; achain mechanically engaged with said sprocket; a plurality of fingersfixed to said chain, said fingers extending outwardly from said chain;and, an elevation track having a first end and a second end, said firstend connected to said floor collector track, said second end connectedto said raised collector track.
 15. The game of claim 12 wherein saidelevating means include: a motor having an output; a circular memberfixedly connected to said output, said circular member having a firstside and a second side, said first side being adjacent to said floorcollector track and said raised collector track; a plurality of openingslocated around the peripheral edges of said circular member; and, aplurality of cages corresponding to each of said openings, said cagesare attached to said circular member on said second side.
 16. The gameof claim 15 wherein: said cage has a front portion and a back portion,said front portion fixedly mounted to said circular member, said frontportion is elevated from said back portion when said cage is positionedclosest to said supporting floor and said back portion is elevated fromsaid front portion when said cage is above said raised collector track.17. The game of claim 12 wherein said elevating means include: anelevation track having a first end and a second end, said first endconnected to said floor collector track, said second end connected tosaid raised collector track; a motor having an output; a rod fixedlyconnected to said output; and an auger blade fixedly connected to saidrod, said blade creating a series of helical flightings sufficient toreceive one of said balls, wherein said rod is positioned parallel withsaid elevation track.
 18. A game table to be positioned on a surface andplayable with golf balls, said game table comprising: a platformincluding a plurality of holes extending through said platform, saidplatform is flat; an outer portion surrounding said platform to limitmovement of balls off the game table, said outer portion includes aninclined surface extending upwardly from said platform and a retainingwall extending upwardly from said inclined surface; a lower collectortrack to receive balls from said platform and align said balls insequential fashion; an elevated collector track to align said balls insequential fashion in order for said balls to be dispensed onto saidplatform; a plurality of ball returns extending downwardly from saidholes and all terminating at said lower collector track to catch ballsfalling through said holes and directing the balls toward said lowercollector track for storage of said balls; a motor having an output; asprocket fixedly connected to said output; a chain mechanically engagedwith said sprocket; a plurality of fingers fixed to said chain, saidfingers extending outwardly from said chain; and, an inclined trackhaving a first end and a second end, said first end connected to saidlower collector track, said second end connected to said elevatedcollector track; and, a plurality of legs attached to said platform,said legs maintain said platform at an elevated height above saidsurface.
 19. The game table of claim 18 further comprising: a wedgehaving a plurality of steps upon with said legs can rest.
 20. The gametable of claim 18 further comprising: an inflatable air bag mounted tosaid platform; and, a compressor in fluid communication with saidinflatable air bag.